Description of the Firm
Western Asset Management Company, LLC (“Western Asset U.S.”), Western Asset Management Company Limited
(“Western Asset UK”), Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. (“Western Asset Singapore”), and Western
Asset Management Company Ltd. (“Western Asset Japan”), (collectively, “Western Asset” or the “Firm”). Western Asset
is a leading global fixed-income investment manager committed to delivering long-term results through active
management for over 50 years. Owned by Franklin Resources, Inc. (“Franklin Resources”), Western Asset operates
with investment independence from its parent and is comprised of a total of six legal entities that operate as part of
Western Asset. Our active investment approach combines the market knowledge of long tenured portfolio managers
with the research of a specialized group of sectors and portfolio analysts and the rigor of a dedicated, independent risk
management team. There are a total of six legal entities that operate as part of Western Asset, however, unless
specifically noted, references to Western Asset and the Firm represent the four SEC-registered legal entities below.
Western Asset Management Company, LLC
385 East Colorado Boulevard
Pasadena, California 91101
+1.626.844.9400
620 8th Avenue, 50th Floor
New York, New York 10018
+1.212.601.6229
Western Asset Management Company Limited
10 Exchange Square, Primrose Street
London EC2A 2EN, United Kingdom
+44 (0)20.7422.3000
Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd.
1 George Street #23-01
Singapore 049145
+65 6428.3600
Western Asset Management Company Ltd
5-1 Marunouchi 1-Chome Chiyoda-Ku
Tokyo 100-6536, Japan
+81 (0)3.4520.4300
Additionally, Western Asset Singapore has a presence in Hong Kong to service the Firm’s Hong Kong client
relationships. The Firm’s Client Service Executives travel to Hong Kong and utilize a Franklin Templeton office to
service these relationships. Similarly, Western Asset UK has a presence in Zürich, Switzerland to service the Firm’s
European relationships. Western Asset encompasses two other legal entities that are not SEC registered investment
advisers; however, certain information about these legal entities is included in this brochure. Western Asset
Management Company Distribuidora de Titulos e Valores Mobiliarios Limitada is located in São Paulo, Brazil and
Western Asset Management Company Pty Ltd is located in Melbourne, Australia.
Our History
Western Asset operates as a separate legal entity and an autonomous investment management company as part of
the Franklin Resources organization and provides discretionary investment management and advisory services to
clients, as described in this brochure. Western Asset Management Company, LLC was founded in Los Angeles,
California in October 1971 by United California Bank (which later became First Interstate) before relocating to
Pasadena, California, where it is currently headquartered.
In December 2005, to further enhance Western Asset's capabilities and global presence, Legg Mason acquired a
substantial part of Citigroup’s asset management business in exchange for its brokerage and capital markets business.
As part of this transaction, the Firm gained new offices in Hong Kong, Melbourne, New York, São Paulo and Tokyo, as
well as related staff and assets. In May 2018, Western Asset U.S. was converted from a California corporation to a
California limited liability company.
Western Asset’s parent company, Legg Mason, Inc. (“Legg Mason”) was acquired by Franklin Resources, Inc.
(“Franklin Resources”) in a transaction that closed on July 31, 2020. In the transaction, Franklin Resources purchased
100% of the outstanding equity of Legg Mason and, as a result, indirectly acquired 100% of Legg Mason’s ownership
interest in Western Asset. Western Asset entered into a revenue-sharing agreement with Franklin Resources that
allows Western Asset to retain control over a substantial percentage of its revenues.
While Western Asset U.S. is generally responsible for managing U.S. fixed-income mandates, including the related
portions of the Firm’s broader portfolios and servicing its U.S. relationships, it undertakes all types of investment-related
activities, including investment management, research and analysis, securities settlement, and client service. Western
Asset’s office in New York is primarily responsible for the Firm’s liquidity and municipal products.
Western Asset UK is generally responsible for managing global and non-U.S. dollar fixed-income mandates, including
the related portions of the Firm’s broader portfolios, as well as servicing client relationships in Europe Middle East and
Africa. Western Asset UK undertakes all types of investment related activities including investment management,
research analysis, securities settlement, and client service. In February 2019, Western Asset UK established a
presence in Zürich, Switzerland to enhance the Firm’s client service and marketing presence in Europe.
Western Asset Singapore is dedicated to managing Asian (excluding Japan) fixed-income mandates, and providing input
and analysis for the Asian portions of Western Asset’s broader portfolios, as well as servicing these relationships. It
undertakes all types of investment-related activities including investment management, research and analysis, securities
settlement, and client service. Western Asset Singapore has a presence in Hong Kong to service the Firm’s Hong Kong
client relationships.
Western Asset Japan is responsible for managing Japanese mandates, including the related portions of Western
Asset’s broader portfolios. It also services Japanese clients investing in non-Japanese investments managed by
other offices. It undertakes all types of investment-related activities including investment management, research
and analysis, securities settlement, and client service.
Western Asset Australia is responsible for managing Australian and New Zealand fixed-income mandates, including
the related portions of Western Asset’s broader portfolios, and servicing the Firm’s Australian relationships. It
undertakes all types of investment related activities including investment management, research and analysis,
securities settlement, and client service.
Western Asset Brazil is responsible for managing Brazilian fixed-income mandates, including the related portions of
Western Asset’s broader portfolios, and servicing the Firm’s Brazilian relationships. Unlike other offices, it also
manages equity and balanced accounts. It undertakes all types of investment-related activities including investment
management, research and
analysis, securities settlement, and client service.
Supervised Affiliates of Western Asset
As noted above, Western Asset is comprised of a number of supervised affiliates. Below are the dates these entities
were established or came under Western Asset’s management:
Entity Jurisdiction Date
Western Asset Management Company, LLC United States 1971
Western Asset Management Company Limited United Kingdom 1986
Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. Singapore 2000
Western Asset Management Company Ltd Japan 2005
Western Asset Management Company Pty Ltd Australia 2005
Western Asset Management Company DTVM Limitada Brazil 2005
As of September 30, 2023, Western Asst had approximately 713 employees in 8 cities across 7 countries.
Types of Products and Services
Western Asset provides investment management and advisory services for a broad range of fixed income portfolios,
including broad market portfolios and more specialized and tailored portfolios. It does not manage equity portfolios
except in limited circumstances, although certain types of instruments, which may be considered to have equity
characteristics, such as preferred stock and convertible instruments, are commonly found in certain fixed income
investment portfolios that we manage. Western Asset’s principal investment strategies are as follows:
Asia Local Currency Debt
Asia USD Debt
Currency Alpha
Emerging Markets Corporate
Emerging Markets Diversified
Euro Aggregate
Global Aggregate
Global High Yield
Global Inflation-Linked
Global Multi-Sector
Global Sovereign
Global Term Premium
Global Credit-Corporate
Japan Core Conservative
Japan Fixed Income
Macro Opportunities
Multi-Asset Credit
Short Duration High Income
Short Duration High Yield
Structured Product
Structured Product Levered
Total Return Unconstrained
UK Credit
US Agency MBS
US Agency MBS Plus
US Bank Loan
US Core
US Core Constrained
US Core Plus
US ESG Core Plus
US Enhanced Liquidity
US High Yield
US High Quality High Yield
US Intermediate
US Intermediate Plus
US Investment Grade Credit
US Investment Grade Credit Plus
US Investment Grade Intermediate Credit Plus
US Short Duration
US Short Duration Constrained
US Long Credit
US Long Credit Plus
US Long Duration Plus
US Liquidity
US Municipal Intermediate
US Municipal Long
US Taxable Municipal
In addition to the legal entity directly contracted with a client, all or a part of any account may be sub-advised by our
affiliates through delegation. Appendix A Investment Strategies contains descriptions about the investment strategies
listed above.
Western Asset generally tailors its advisory services and products to client needs and requirements. Western Asset
typically reviews and crafts investment objectives and guidelines in detail with new clients as part of the startup process,
and revisits objectives and guidelines with existing clients over time as their investment requirements change.
Wrap Fee Programs
Western Asset U.S. also provides investment management services to clients under various “wrap fee programs” that
may be sponsored by banks, broker-dealers or other investment advisers that may or may not be affiliated with Western
Asset. Wrap fee program clients should carefully review the terms of the relevant agreement with their sponsor to
understand the terms, services, minimum account size and any additional fees that may be associated with their
account and participation in the wrap fee program. Western Asset U.S. receives a portion of the wrap fee for services
provided to such accounts. In light of the relatively small size of these accounts when compared to those of institutional
clients, Western Asset U.S. has developed products specifically for wrap fee programs and clients. Not all strategies
are available through wrap fee programs. Further, the manner in which Western Asset U.S. executes a strategy through
a wrap fee program may differ from how the same strategy is executed for an institutional client, for example, because
of the need to adhere to the restrictions imposed by the wrap fee account provider or due to the use of affiliated
commingled vehicles rather than individual securities. Where Western Asset U.S. has discretion, Western Asset U.S.
makes investment decisions that are consistent with the strategy selected by the client and sponsor. Where Western
Asset U.S. does not have discretion, Western Asset U.S. provides information (e.g., model portfolios) to the sponsor
to be used by the sponsor or other investment professional in implementing investment decisions.
Private Funds
Clients may access certain Western Asset strategies through private funds. In order to do so, clients must meet certain
qualifications and be either qualified purchasers or accredited investors. These funds are primarily designed to provide
Western Asset’s clients with opportunistic asset diversification in an effort to augment investment strategies in seeking
a client’s overall objectives. The funds may also be utilized as an investment vehicle to launch a new strategy or product
that may not initially create demand worthy of separate account minimums or where specific business and legal
arrangements make the use of a private fund necessary or advisable. As of September 30, 2023, Western Asset U.S.
is the Managing Member and investment manager of approximately 50 private commingled investment funds.
Regulatory Assets Under Management (RAUM) as of September 30, 2023*
Managing Entity Number of Client Accounts RAUM
U.S. (Pasadena and New
York)
502** $ 291,517,682,258
United Kingdom 78 $ 28,392,397,689
Singapore 17 $ 4,212,320,038
Tokyo 20 $ 3,434,431,664
Total 617 $ 327,556,831,649
*Western Asset, through the offices listed above, managed approximately $327 billion of which approximately $5 billion
consisted of non-discretionary assets.
**Excluded from the number of client accounts above are the separately managed accounts Western Asset U.S. sub-
advises pursuant to arrangements with wrap fee program sponsors. As of September 30, 2023, the assets under
management of these arrangements was approximately $22,299,638,029 and consisting of approximately 35,633
accounts. As reported above, Western Asset’s institutional business is responsible for substantially all of the regulatory
assets under management.